Notes

Inhabitat's Week for Green: Wind Farms and Algae Power, as well as an Airplane Made From Hemp

Inhabitat's friends recap the week's top green innovations and green tech news every week. It's the Week In Green.
EXTREMECRAFT


Highways are big dark, black surfaces that absorb lots of sun. Wouldn't it be more sensible to have them powered by solar energy? Designer Daan Roosegaarde came up with this idea, and now it's an actuality. Roosegaarde teamed up with Heijmans Infrastructure to install solar-powered glowing lines along a highway in the Netherlands. The test was a huge success and is expected to expand to other regions of the country. Also on the renewable energy front, Masdar is building a 50-megawatt wind farm for the Sultanate of Oman, making it the biggest wind farm in the Gulf states region. The wind farm will generate enough clean energy to power 16,000 homes and will stop 110,000 tonnes (121,254 tons) of carbon dioxide from being burned annually. Primrose Solar and Solarcentury are collaborating in the UK to build a 48 megawatt solar farm in Portsmouth. The companies are aiming to make it the cleanest ground-mounted solar farm in the world. Are you convinced that algae is simply green slime. You'd be wrong This natural resource can power everything from a lightbulb to a whole city. Here are some of the most innovative designs powered by algae that could transform the world.



A few years ago, BMW, Daimler and scientists at the Technische Universitat Munchen announced plans to work together to create an affordable and safe electric vehicle. This week, the Visio.M, a tiny two-seater that weighs less than 800 pounds, will be revealed to the public for the first time at the eCarTec trade exhibition in Munich. In other green transportation news, last week , Inhabitat was one of two teams to complete the challenge to drive 834 miles with one tank of diesel fuel in the 2015 Audi A3 TDI, proving that it's possible to get from Albuquerque to San Diego without refilling the tank. According to a couple from California the first hoverboard in the world has arrived. The couple claims to have invented a functioning hoverboard that makes use of electromagnetics to hover about an inch off the ground. Vello Bike, a high-performance folding bicycle, was designed for urban commuters. It requires just a kick to fold and roll back into position. This makes it easy to transport the bike on public transportation or store it in a storage area. Hempearth is an Canadian company, is developing the world's first aircraft made of hemp. The plane is expected to be ready for flight by the end of next year.



While 3D printing holds many potential applications in the world of design but it also poses problems for law enforcement officials because it can allow users to create their own guns at home. A 28-year-old Japanese citizen was sentenced to three days in jail last week for 3D printing. He was found guilty of making two guns at home and sharing a video showing how others could make it. Inhabitat was at New York City's first get-together. Explore the top technology innovations on display, including 3D-printed pens and tablets that have built-in projectors.



3D printing is already widely used in the fields of aerospace and medical technology, however it's only just beginning to be used as a viable method of construction. The World's Advanced Saving Project presented an portable 3D printer that can build homes out of clay and mud as well as fibers at Maker Faire Rome. The group plans to bring the technology to the most remote regions of the globe. Design duo Micaela Collella and Maurizio Barbario have come up with plans for a prefabricated wood home. The foundation is made of an innovative steel and can be completely recycled. Philippe Starck, a French designer, recently teamed together to construct a brand-new solar- and wind-powered house. The house which is two stories high produces 50% more energy than it uses.



Many of our readers are creating Halloween costumes for their children. But few can match the amazing dad's LED-lit stick figure costume that makes Zoey appear to be Minnie Mouse. If you're still stuck for Halloween costume ideas and you want to do something gadgety look at our amazing images of human iPhones Androids, robots and Minecraft characters here.


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